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Rolls-Royce is expanding its Australian defence operations with a new Canberra headquarters and an export partnership with Marand Precision Engineering to supply propulsion systems for the UK’s Type 26 frigate program.
Rolls-Royce has expanded its partnership with Australian manufacturer Marand Precision Engineering into a new international defence export venture while establishing a dedicated regional headquarters in Canberra to support its growing presence across the Pacific Rim.
The company announced the developments as it continues to strengthen its support for the Australian Defence Force, build sovereign industrial capability and expand its engagement with defence customers across the region.
The new Rolls-Royce Defence headquarters in Canberra was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles on 12 August 2026.
The facility will serve as the strategic hub for Rolls-Royce Defence’s Pacific Rim operations, covering Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.
Rolls-Royce’s Canberra expansion is similarly designed to build on its established Australian footprint. The company will retain its Sydney office, while its fleet services and technical personnel will continue to operate across several ADF bases, providing direct operational and engineering support.
Thijs Miedema, senior vice-president for Defence Pacific Rim, Rolls-Royce, said the Canberra headquarters would bring the company closer to Australia’s defence leadership, saying, “Establishing our regional Defence headquarters in Canberra is a critical step forward for Rolls-Royce in the Pacific Rim.
“While we have long maintained a strong footprint in Australia, this permanent base brings us closer to the heart of the Australian government and Australian Defence Force leadership. It ensures we can provide immediate, collaborative engagement to better support the vital programs that safeguard Australia and our regional partners.”
Rolls-Royce will invest $1 million in the Canberra facility over the next five years, with the company positioning the site as a centre for closer engagement with governments, defence organisations and industry partners on major national security programs, including initiatives associated with AUKUS.
The company’s expansion in Canberra comes alongside a significant new export opportunity for Marand.
Following a competitive international tender, Rolls-Royce selected Marand to manufacture three additional gas turbine acoustic enclosures and associated ship interface systems for the Type 26 Global Combat Ship program.
The components will be manufactured and assembled at Marand’s Melbourne facility before being supplied to Rolls-Royce. The contract builds on Marand’s existing relationship with Rolls-Royce supporting Australia’s Hunter Class frigate program, for which the company supplies the same systems.
Rolls-Royce provides its MT30 gas turbines for both programs, while its mtu power generation solutions also form part of the Hunter Class propulsion and power architecture.
The acoustic enclosure provides mechanical support for the MT30 while incorporating noise suppression, controls, air intake, exhaust, ventilation and auxiliary systems required for the gas turbine to operate effectively.
Rolls-Royce engineers are co-located at Marand’s Melbourne facility, working alongside Australian manufacturing teams throughout the design, integration, packaging and testing process.
The arrangement is intended to strengthen Australian sovereign engineering capability while creating opportunities for highly skilled manufacturing and engineering roles.
Alex Zino, defence director of business development and future programs, UK and International, Rolls-Royce, stressed the importance of the contract, saying, “This is a transformative step in our partnership with Marand Precision Engineering. Marand was selected from an international field, a testament to the quality of Australian engineering, and it underscores our commitment to bolster Australia’s sovereign capability. We look forward to working closely with Marand, BAE Systems Australia, and our customers around the world.”
Rohan Stocker, CEO of Asdam Group and Marand, said: “It is a privilege for our team to manufacture and assemble the gas turbine acoustic enclosure and ship interface systems for Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems Australia and ultimately for the Commonwealth. The partnership with Rolls-Royce has been an opportunity to learn from and deliver an outstanding product with a global leader in defence engineering.”
The Type 26 agreement could provide an important pathway for Australian defence manufacturers to participate in international naval supply chains, leveraging expertise developed through the Hunter Class program.
The new headquarters and expanded Marand partnership underline Rolls-Royce’s broader strategy of using Australia as both a key defence market and an industrial partner capable of contributing to global programs.
For Australia, the Type 26 agreement demonstrates how investment in sovereign capability through the Hunter Class program can create opportunities to connect domestic manufacturers with international defence supply chains.
With Rolls-Royce now expanding its regional headquarters in Canberra while increasing Australian industrial participation in the Type 26 program, the company is positioning the country as an increasingly important base for its defence operations across the Indo-Pacific.
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